I noticed that there is a sports article on Yahoo’s front page about a football fan using a laser during a recent game. But the line reads, “A Colorado fan tries to help out the Buffaloes’ defense in an unusual way.” I’m confused about the use of “Buffaloes’” here. Isn’t buffalo both singular and plural? And for that matter the name of the team isn’t even The Buffaloes, it’s The Bills. Anybody have input?
(I know we all will, we’re a bunch of intelligent nit-pickers.)
I would think it’s acceptable either way, with or without the apostrophe, since it is the defense belonging to the Buffaloes, but describing it as the “Buffaloes defense” (no apostrophe) also seems to be acceptable.
The University of Colorado football team is the Buffaloes, so there’s no error there. You’re thinking of the Buffalo Bills, a pro team in New York.
